What is the Difference Between Constipation and Diarrhea

The key difference between constipation and diarrhea is that constipation causes fewer than three bowel movements a week, while diarrhea causes loose, watery, and more frequent bowel movements.

Constipation and diarrhea are two types of bowel problems. The other bowel conditions include fecal incontinence, bowel urgency, diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Bowel problems are not inevitable diseases of ageing. There are numerous treatments, products, and management options for these diseases. Moreover, changes to lifestyle such as diet and fluids can significantly improve bowel health as well.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Constipation
3. What is Diarrhea
4. Similarities – Constipation and Diarrhea
5. Constipation vs Diarrhea in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Constipation vs Diarrhea

What is Constipation?

Constipation is a condition that has chronic infrequent bowel movements. In constipation, fewer than three bowel movements per week occur. It causes the difficult passage of stools that persist for several weeks or longer. Normally, constipation is occasional. But some people may have chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to do their daily tasks. Chronic constipation can also cause people to strain excessively in order to have bowel movements.

The signs and symptoms of constipation may include passing fewer than three stools a week, lumpy and hard stools, straining excessively in order to have a bowel movement, feeling as though there is a blockage in the rectum, feeling as though it can’t completely empty the stool, and needing to empty the rectum. The causes of constipation include blockages in the colon or rectum, problems with the nerves around the colon and rectum, difficulty with muscles involved in elimination, and other conditions that affect hormones in the body, such as diabetes, hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy, and hypothyroidism.

Chronic constipation can be diagnosed through blood tests, X-ray, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion test, colonic transit study, and defecography. Furthermore, constipation is treated through life and lifestyle changes, laxatives (fiber supplements, stimulants, osmotic, lubricants, stool softeners, enemas, and suppositories), and other medications like lubiprostone, serotonin 5 hydroxytryptamine 4 receptors, and peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists.

What is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a medical condition that causes loose, watery, and more frequent bowel movements. Generally, diarrhea lasts for a few days. If it lasts for many days, it indicates another underlying condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The signs and symptoms of diarrhea include abdominal cramps and pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fever, sometimes blood in stools, mucus in stool, and urgent need to have a bowel movement. Causes of diarrhea include viruses, bacteria, parasites, medications, lactose intolerance, fructose, artificial sweeteners, surgery, and other digestive disorders such as IBS.

Moreover, diarrhea can be diagnosed through physical examinations, blood tests, stool tests, hydrogen breath tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and upper endoscopy. Furthermore, treatments for diarrhea include antibiotics, antiparasitics, intravenous fluid (IV), adjusting medication, and treating underlying conditions.

What are the Similarities Between Constipation and Diarrhea?

Constipation and diarrhea are two types of bowel problems.
Both are not serious conditions.
Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
They are treated through specific medications.

What is the Difference Between Constipation and Diarrhea?

Constipation is a medical condition that causes fewer than three bowel movements a week, while diarrhea is a medical condition that causes loose, watery, and more frequent bowel movements. Thus, this is the key difference between constipation and diarrhea. Furthermore, the causes of constipation are blockages in the colon or rectum, problems with the nerves around the colon and rectum, difficulty with muscles involved in elimination, and other conditions that affect hormones in the body, such as diabetes, hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy, and hypothyroidism. On the other hand, the causes of diarrhea are viruses, bacteria, parasites, medications, lactose intolerance, fructose, artificial sweeteners, surgery, and other digestive disorders such as IBS.

The below infographic presents the differences between constipation and diarrhea in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Constipation vs Diarrhea

Constipation and diarrhea are two types of common bowel problems. Constipation is a medical condition that causes fewer than three bowel movements a week, while diarrhea is a medical condition that causes loose, watery, and more frequent bowel movements. So, this is the difference between constipation and diarrhea.

Reference:

1. “Constipation; Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Diarrhea.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 18 Aug.